Democratic convention: Deval Patrick implores party to ‘grow a backbone’

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick implored Iowa Democrats to run confidently on their principles and decried Republicans as cynical power-seekers in his keynote address at the state party convention this morning.

Patrick, a two-term Democrat, succeeded Mitt Romney as governor of Massachusetts. Romney is now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and Patrick is a top surrogate for President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign.

The governor cheered Democrats in Iowa and nationwide for “helping people to help themselves” and for imbuing politics and government with a sense of “common cause” and “common destiny.” The problem is, he said, that Democrats are too often timid when it comes to championing that message.

“If we want to win elections in 2012, if we want to keep Barack Obama in the White House, win back the House, hold onto the Senate and move the country forward, if we want to earn the privilege to lead, then it is time for Democrats to grow a backbone and stand up for what we believe,” he said.

He also sharply criticized the Republican agenda, and questioned its party leaders’ sincerity in pursuing it.

“Once you cut through their slogans and soundbytes, all that today’s Republicans are saying is that if we shrink government, cut taxes, crush unions and wait, all will be well,” Patrick said. “History has proven that thesis wrong time after time after time.”

But, he added, Republicans don’t practice what they preach when it comes to job creation, individual freedom, religious extremism, federal spending and the growth of government.

“For Republicans today, it’s not about principle – it’s about power,” he said. “They’re willing to say or do anything for power. And when you call them on it they turn to bullying.”